Browse Forums Home Theatre & Automation 1 Oct 31, 2011 2:45 pm I currently have a setup in my loungeroom with an old amp/receiver & a laptop serving as a home theatre unit, & would like to be able to stream my music from inside to my rear undercover verandah. I can control the PC with my ipad no problems, just not sure what the best way to go about installing speakers. Is it better to go with a wored option & use a speaker switch box, or are wireless speakers OK these days? I dont have a huge budget (in fact don't even have a budget at this stage) so any advise would be appreciated to point me in the right direction. Re: Wireless Outdoor Speakers 2Nov 10, 2011 3:13 pm Suggestion: get yourself an Apple AirPort Express, it's a little box that plugs into a power point and connects to your wifi (I'm assuming you already have a wifi access point?) and has a 3.5mm stereo out. Match this up with speakers of your choosing and control the output with your iPad/iPhone via the Remote.app and iTunes on your PC/Mac. These are $119 new for the 802.11n versions, but you can also pickup the older 802.11g versions used for cheap on eBay, plenty good enough for audio streaming. http://www.apple.com/au/airportexpress/ http://www.apple.com/au/airportexpress/ ... rplay.html http://store.apple.com/au/product/MB321 ... s-AirTunes You can have multiple AirPorts around your house and switch them on/off as needed, with independent volume control via the app. The only limitation is that they will all be playing the same thing, I don't think it's possible to send different audio to different AirPorts (anyone know of a hack for this?). If you want to send audio from a source other than iTunes (YouTube, streaming radio, a different MP3 player, etc) then I think AirFoil allows this. http://www.rogueamoeba.com/airfoil/ Wireless Outdoor Speakers 3Nov 11, 2011 4:53 am cray- You can have multiple AirPorts around your house and switch them on/off as needed, with independent volume control via the app. The only limitation is that they will all be playing the same thing, I don't think it's possible to send different audio to different AirPorts (anyone know of a hack for this?). You can, but you do it if you have multiple devices to stream from - you could use iTunes on your computer to one Airport Express and AirPlay on your iPhone or iPod Touch to a second and even iTunes on another computer to a third. If you use iTunes home sharing then you only need the music on one computer and then the other devices can access it. Paul Re: Wireless Outdoor Speakers 4Nov 11, 2011 9:55 am McReidy I currently have a setup in my loungeroom with an old amp/receiver & a laptop serving as a home theatre unit, & would like to be able to stream my music from inside to my rear undercover verandah. I can control the PC with my ipad no problems, just not sure what the best way to go about installing speakers. Is it better to go with a wored option & use a speaker switch box, or are wireless speakers OK these days? I dont have a huge budget (in fact don't even have a budget at this stage) so any advise would be appreciated to point me in the right direction. no such thing as truely wireless speakers. as they need tohave 1) power and 2) signal... wired speakers hooked up to a source that is wireless yes, lots of options depends on your budget... Sonos comes to mind as are lots of other options.. My prefernce will always be wired everything Kodiak Data Cabling onFaceBook Consult*, Design and Installation Data, TV, Home Theatre/ AV Cabling, Multi Room Audio, IP CCTV and Door Intercoms Ask for a Quote. *DIY DATA Cabling Is Ilegal Re: Wireless Outdoor Speakers 5Nov 11, 2011 9:59 am Thanks for the replies. Sounds like the AirPort Express might be the way to go with some nice little speakers mounted. So I understand correctly, the Airport plugs into a power source, speakers plug into the airport via 3.5mm audio cable and Ipad controls the itunes library. Sounds too easy! Re: Wireless Outdoor Speakers 6Nov 11, 2011 11:56 am McReidy thanks for asking the question, think I'll do the same in the alfresco here. Re: Wireless Outdoor Speakers 7Nov 14, 2011 4:16 pm McReidy Thanks for the replies. Sounds like the AirPort Express might be the way to go with some nice little speakers mounted. So I understand correctly, the Airport plugs into a power source, speakers plug into the airport via 3.5mm audio cable and Ipad controls the itunes library. Sounds too easy! The only thing I may not have made clear is that you might want to get self-amplified/self-powered/active speakers as the AirPort Express is only sending line level out. Something like these: http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.as ... TID=1008#4 Though I'm sure I've seen similar ones for cheaper, keep an eye on DSE, Tandy or try eBay. This will make for a simpler setup. You could use something like these: http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.as ... TID=1008#4 They're the same kind of speakers but not amplified, so you'd need to add a small amp in between the AirPort and the speakers. Just depends if you want the added hassle/complexity/wires. Might add up to the same price anyway. The CS2437 have Stereo RCA input so you will need a 3.5mm stereo to 2x RCA cable to connect the AirPort to the speakers. A cheaper option is "PC" speakers, I use Logitech or Creative 2.0 and 2.1 sets for indoor use, it just depends if weatherproofing is an issue. paulw11 cray- You can have multiple AirPorts around your house and switch them on/off as needed, with independent volume control via the app. The only limitation is that they will all be playing the same thing, I don't think it's possible to send different audio to different AirPorts (anyone know of a hack for this?). Paul Re: Wireless Outdoor Speakers 8Dec 22, 2012 10:00 am Re those 5.1 speaker systems you see where the 2 back ones are wifi ! Can you do something similar from your TV/Music set-up so that the speakers can be outside ? Also - do the inside one work all that well - anyone that has them ? Mine have always been wired. Re: Wireless Outdoor Speakers 9Dec 22, 2012 11:52 am Saint Mike Re those 5.1 speaker systems you see where the 2 back ones are wifi ! Can you do something similar from your TV/Music set-up so that the speakers can be outside ? Also - do the inside one work all that well - anyone that has them ? Mine have always been wired. but they still require Power.... Kodiak Data Cabling onFaceBook Consult*, Design and Installation Data, TV, Home Theatre/ AV Cabling, Multi Room Audio, IP CCTV and Door Intercoms Ask for a Quote. *DIY DATA Cabling Is Ilegal Re: Wireless Outdoor Speakers 10Dec 22, 2012 12:01 pm Pugs Saint Mike Re those 5.1 speaker systems you see where the 2 back ones are wifi ! Can you do something similar from your TV/Music set-up so that the speakers can be outside ? Also - do the inside one work all that well - anyone that has them ? Mine have always been wired. but they still require Power.... Yep - but will they work outside - or do they need unobstucted access ? AND - even indoors - are they good. Oops - sorry - are you saying the speakers need to be plugged into a socket ? Re: Wireless Outdoor Speakers 11Dec 22, 2012 12:04 pm Saint Mike Yep - but will they work outside - or do they need unobstucted access ? AND - even indoors - are they good. Oops - sorry - are you saying the speakers need to be plugged into a socket ? the wifi receiver needs power so techincally they arn't wireless speakers.. and pretty sure the box needs LOS (Line of Sight) to the main "amp" Kodiak Data Cabling onFaceBook Consult*, Design and Installation Data, TV, Home Theatre/ AV Cabling, Multi Room Audio, IP CCTV and Door Intercoms Ask for a Quote. *DIY DATA Cabling Is Ilegal Re: Wireless Outdoor Speakers 12Dec 24, 2012 12:01 pm Pugs Saint Mike Yep - but will they work outside - or do they need unobstucted access ? AND - even indoors - are they good. Oops - sorry - are you saying the speakers need to be plugged into a socket ? the wifi receiver needs power so techincally they arn't wireless speakers.. and pretty sure the box needs LOS (Line of Sight) to the main "amp" Oh. This makes a difference. I hadn't thought of a power point nearby. Re: Wireless Outdoor Speakers 14Dec 28, 2012 10:16 pm I'm a fan of the Sonos, and have them throughout the house, but you still need a power point. I actually have power points on my deck for that purpose, as it's easy to have a Play3 or Play5 out there, although I may end up putting in my spare ZP100 as I happen to have power points in the ceiling space from the blinds. Update from me! Couldn't find the trimmer - not sure if there isn't one simply because the eave is so narrow. Went ahead with the spring toggles and it all worked out… 7 5877 Thanks for letting us know. The programmer will have a look at this later today. 2 6689 About a year ago, I embarked on a DIY project to construct an outdoor Pergola, which measures approximately 5.2 meters by 4.0… 0 29616 |